Cuomo: Public Authorities Lack Pay Authority

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has sent a letter to two public authorities to inform them that they cannot legally provide compensation for board members.

Cuomo got drawn into making such a judgment following a revelation in the Times Union that the board members of the state Housing Finance Agency and the State of New York Mortgage Agency voted themselves lifetime health insurance.

“New Yorkers are demanding reform, integrity and accountability from government agencies across the board.Â Public authorities are no exception,” Cuomo said in a press release.Â

“Here, two public authorities previously misinterpreted a provision of the Civil Service Law and consequently violated a direct statutory ban on compensating board members.

“This is another example of why we need to bring openness and accountability to public authorities.”

The salaried leader of the two public authorities, Priscilla Almodovar, requested the opinion following the story, which appeared the same week she was appointed. Cuomo’s aides say the ruling applies to all public authorities.